Need for more street recycling bins identified

Ohakune Photo/File

After a check of the contents of 16 random rubbish bins on Ohakune streets, Ruapehu District Council has found the town could do with more recycling bins alongside the street rubbish bins.

Council waste minimisation officer Steve Carson said the audit had helped the council make decisions about the management of the bins, including whether there are too many, not enough, or if they are in the wrong locations.

Collecting the information will assist Ruapehu's solid waste management, he said.

The audit had involved collecting everything that has been put into Ohakune's street bins on a given day, sorting it into different waste streams and weighing it.

"We were particularly interested in how much recyclable material is getting put into the rubbish bins, and there is a limited number of Love NZ footpath recycling bins in Ohakune that sit alongside the street rubbish bins.

"The Love NZ recycling bins have been very successful in capturing recyclable material and diverting it from the landfill."

Mr Carson said the rubbish in the bins was sorted into tin cans, aluminium cans, paper and cardboard, glass, plastic and waste material.

"In five of the bins almost half of the material could have been recycled.

"In another five, around a quarter of the material could be recycled and only one bin out of the 16 had 100 per cent rubbish in it.

"The council believes that most people want to do the right thing and would recycle if given the opportunity."